Food

ASEAN held a Workshop on Food Security Cooperation and Rice Reserve Management System in East Asia on 19-20 July 2001 in Nakhon Pathom to discuss the Terms of Reference for the Feasibility Study on Rice Reserve Management System in East Asia and the proposal for establishing an ASEAN Food Security Information System.  Technical meetings on rice reserve system have been held to consider the outcome of the feasibility study.  The final outcome of the study will be submitted to the next meeting of the agriculture ministers of ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

The ASEAN halal food programme has been continued. The programme promotes intra-ASEAN food trade by providing the food industry (food processors, manufacturers, exporters/ importers, and distributors) with an understanding of the concepts and issues relating to halal food preparation, processing, certification, and quality assurance. In order to promote the use of the ASEAN Halal Food Guidelines, which had been endorsed along with the ASEAN halal logo, training of trainers for halal food inspectors was conducted in Singapore on 12-14 March 2001.

Crops

Due to strong concern over the excessive use of pesticides in food crops production, ASEAN agreed to establish a network among the pesticide regulators for sharing information on the control of marketing and use of pesticides in the region.  The first meeting for the establishment of a network for pesticide regulatory authorities in ASEAN countries was held on 12-14 June 2001 in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the strategies and work plan for the initiative.

The sixth meeting of the Experts Working Group on the Harmonization of Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides among ASEAN member countries was held on 11-14 December 2001 in Chiang Mai.  To protect consumers’ health and facilitate trade in agricultural commodities among the member countries, ASEAN has adopted 170 harmonized Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of 13 pesticides in vegetables and fruits while work on additional seven pesticides is continuing.

In cooperation with the Asian Vegetable Research Development Centre (AVRDC) to improve vegetable productivity in the region, ASEAN and AVRDC jointly organized the ASEAN Vegetable Forum on 24-26 September 2001 in Shanhua, Taiwan.  The Forum generated the programme and work plan for six projects under ASEAN-AVRDC Regional Network for Vegetable Research and Development (AARNET).

In order to address ASEAN concerns over market access of its agricultural products in developed countries, ASEAN has commissioned an expert to provide advice on improving the ASEAN countries’ capacity in the area of quarantine regulations.  With technical assistance from New Zealand, ASEAN undertook phytosanitary need assessments for the four newer ASEAN member countries from May to June 2001.  A meeting of senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam on phytosanitary needs assessments was also held in Viet Nam in November 2001.

Livestock

The Southeast Asian region is free from the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease.  There has been no clinical case of BSE reported among ruminants in ASEAN member countries.  While each individual member takes measures to prevent the disease from entering the country, ASEAN has established a common stand on the issue, in terms of preventive measures and a surveillance system to safeguard the region. The stand includes a ban on the importation of live ruminants and products of ruminants originating in countries infected with BSE.

ASEAN collaboration with the Office International des Epizooties (Organization for Animal Health) continued in foot-and-mouth disease control through the endorsement of the OIE Southeast Asia Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Programme. External funding from AUSAID has been approved to extend the activities of the OIE’s Regional Cooperation Unit in Bangkok for the period 2001-2004.

Fisheries

Ministers of ASEAN member countries, responsible for fisheries met for the first time at the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security in the New Millennium: “Fish for the People” in Bangkok on 24 November 2001.  The Ministers adopted a Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region.  To give full effect to the adopted resolution, a Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region has been adopted.  The Plan of Action deals with fisheries management, aquaculture, sustainable utilization of fish and fishery products, fish trade, and regional and international policy formulation.

ASEAN established formal cooperation with the Network of Aquaculture Centre in Asia and Pacific (NACA) in July 2001 in order to promote the application of appropriate technologies for sustainable aquaculture development and aquatic resources management.  The cooperation would include the harmonization of fisheries sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and strengthening of national and regional capacities to control aquatic animal disease.

In the area of aquaculture development, ASEAN continued to work on the harmonization of testing and quarantine procedures for groupers.  In addition, three publications and a manual on the harmonization of shrimps farming have been distributed to and used by farmers.

Agricultural Training and Extension

To enhance the region’s integrated pest management information and knowledge, ASEAN undertook the completion of the ASEAN IPM knowledge management policies and network operating guidelines, the ASEAN IPM information and knowledge databases, and the upgrading of the Regional Center’s IT hardware, software and networking facilities.  ASEAN IPM training manuals and handbooks are being prepared.

The 10th ASEAN Farmers’ Week was organized on 10-16 August 2001 in Malaysia in conjunction with the Malaysian Farmers, Livestock Rearers and Fishermen Annual Celebration. The forum provided an opportunity for the farmers to share experiences in agricultural production and livelihood.

Agricultural Cooperatives

As the lead country in strategic alliance on dairy farming among ASEAN agricultural cooperatives, Indonesia has established a breeding and training centre in Sukabumi, West Java, that produces straws of frozen semen for trade exchange.  In the downstream sector, three milk-processing plants have been established to produce UHT milk and UHT sweetened condensed milk. 

Two strategic alliance projects, SA Project on Vegetable Production and SA Project on Orange Fruit Production, have been merged into one project, entitled SA Project on Agricultural Production and Marketing. Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia are jointly working on this project.

Strategic alliances through information exchange among agricultural cooperatives have been pursued online.  Malaysia and Thailand have established their Websites www.agrolink.moa.my/lpp and www.cpd.go.th/acedac, respectively.

FORESTRY

The ASEAN Senior Officials on Forestry (ASOF) held its 4th Meeting on 23-25 July 2001 in Pasay City and considered the recommendations of the 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Experts Group on Forest Products Research and Development, the 4th Meeting of the ASEAN Experts Group on Herbal and Medicinal Plants, and the Second Seminar on International Issues Affecting Forestry and Forests Products. The seminar on international issues contributed to increasing ASEAN’s capacity to collaborate on issues of common interest in international organizations such as ITTO, INEP/DEF, and UNFCCC.

The ASOF held a special meeting on 25-26 April 2002 in Bogor to discuss the arrangements for the implementation of the ASEAN-German Cooperation on Sustainable Forest Management. It has been agreed that the project shall have a 2-year initial phase within which the priority activities of the region shall be set for implementation with financial and technical support from Germany.

The Special Meeting of the SOM-AMAF considered that illegal logging and associated illegal trade are becoming international concerns.  Thus, it was agreed that forest law enforcement governance and trade issues be discussed at the next meeting of the ASOF on 15-17 July 2002 in Chiang Mai.

The ASEAN Forest Fire Control Research and Development Centre has been established in Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.  The Centre will carry out research activities on forest fire issues.  A database on forest fires will also be established in the Centre.

The First Council Meeting of the ASEAN Forest Products Industry Club was held on 21-22 January 2002 in Bangkok following its establishment in September 2001.  The Council discussed the promotion of ASEAN forest products in the world market.  The members agreed to formulate an action programme for better market access of tropical timber.

ASEAN continued to work on the harmonization of R&D Laboratory Testing Standards and Procedures for physical and mechanical testing, wood machining, durability test, wood finishing, wood laminating, panel products, and wood preservatives. 

The first volume of the ASEAN Database on Herbal and Medicinal Plants has been published. Its purpose is to have a document containing scientific information and illustrative profiles on herbal and medicinal plants for reference purposes.  Work on the second volume is going on.               

ASEAN has endorsed the Code of Practice for Forest Harvesting in Asia and Pacific as a guide to developing specific national codes and/or guidelines and as a tool for improving forest harvesting and management in the region. 

Biotechnology

          In collaboration with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) of Canada and ANZFA, ASEAN conducted the First Training Workshop on Safety and Risk Assessment of Agriculture Related GMOs on 18-20 July 2001 in Singapore.  The Workshop provided participants with hands-on training in how to apply the ASEAN Guidelines on Risk Assessment of Agriculture-related GMOs. 

Trade and Promotion

Market access for frozen chicken, frozen shrimp, canned tuna, tapioca, and cocoa in the international market remained a challenge for ASEAN.  In this regard, the ASEAN Task Force on Codex continued to forge consensus on issues of common interest.

Regular consultations between senior agriculture and trade officials have been held to ensure better coordination.  Consultations with ASEAN trading partners have focused on the import restrictions on fresh tropical fruits and discriminatory tariffs on ASEAN canned tuna.  Another major issue is the EC Directive on Hygiene of Foodstuff (96/3/EC), which has adversely affected trade in ASEAN’s vegetable oils.

ASEAN continued to work on a Uniform Commodity Contract in order to enhance trade in agriculture commodities by using a simplified and standard agreement.